Tuesday, May 22, 2012

'Cause She's My "Baby"

Hi from the back porch of our Pond!

Ask my baby, Wallene, what she would like for dinner and she will say "Chicken Pot Pie".  Even if we had it the previous night, she will eat it every day if given the option.  But it has to be me making it from my recipe.  The store bought ones are just meh - kind of okay- but home make one and the kidlet is in heaven.

Yep. You guessed it. That is what I made for dinner tonight, except I made them extra, extra special.
Well, the family thought so.
See what you think:
Individual Pot Pies!
Aren't they cute?

So cool!  I always make a full pie and we eat slices.  I couldn't resist when I saw the ramekins at Sears today and I picked up a set of 6 for $12.  The family was so surprised when they came to dinner and saw them.  I knew they were excited to be having Potpie for dinner, but to get the extra special, individual pies was a real treat.  I like them because they don't really take any longer than a whole pie and there are no fights for leftovers :) .  They came out perfect [if I do say so myself :)] and the best part is they stayed hot all the way to the last bite.  I also made what I like to call "Confetti salad". This version has diced yellow pepper, orange pepper, cucumber, tomato and red onion.    It was a very nice, very easy dinner for a rainy, cold night. 

For the info factor - These are two crust pies. We don't do one crusters. heehee  They are cheap to make - my favorite thing!  If you prepare your own pie crust they are even more inexpensive.  A can - 2 cups - of white meat chicken [$2.70], a can of low sodium chicken broth [.67 cents] and 1/2 bag - 2 cups - of frozen, mixed veggies [.60 cents] with a little flour, milk and butter and you have a meal for 4 for under $5.00!  If you buy the pie crusts it will add $2.50. Please buy the store brand crusts tho'. They are just as good as Pillsbury, promise.  I used leftover chicken from a $3.50 roaster chicken we had for dinner last night, so it was even cheaper. :)  Woohoo! [This is also an excellent use of leftovers at Thanksgiving and Christmas.]

In other news - we went grocery shopping today.  Pooldad was on call this weekend and is being paid with a $150 grocery giftcard, but we won't pick it up until tomorrow.  We decided to pop over to a different grocery store to grab a few things to tide us through a few days.  It sounded like a good plan - milk, bread, some fruit. Maybe we would spend $50, right? Yeah. No. We found so many really great deals and since I like the produce department at this store much more than at the gift card store we spent $200.  We are good for the next two weeks. heehee  I did splurge tho' and bought $17 worth of grapes [again].  I wish I liked cheaper, healthy food - but ALL the fruit is expensive and besides, these grapes are soooo good.  They'll be gone by Wednesday. Guess I will have to use that giftcard and splurge stock up on more grapes. 

Thank you for your encouraging comments on my last post. I am trying, honest.  I think you know that, but please know I haven't given up yet, and I really am trying not to. Promise.  I realize I have to keep putting one foot in front of the other and take what comes when it comes. Your good thoughts and prayers really do help. I appreciate y'all more than you know.  I hope that I can find more regular, daily life stuff to post about before my blog turns into a whiny, medical history of me 'cause that ain't no fun! :)  Thank you again for continuing to hang out with me.  It truly brings a smile to my day, everyday. 

Have a great week Tadpoles. And if you are getting a weeks worth of rain try to make the best of it. We ARE tadpoles, after all, right?  Hugs to y'all. :D 

See ya' on the flipside!

20 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi Skippy,
It's always nice to read your posts:)
Wishing you a lovely day!
Big Hugs
Em x

Mystic Mud said...

mmmmm...those pot pies look good. I will have to try your recipe. Anytime I've tried to make one they come out BLAND...yuck. And little personal pies....too cute!! My kids would love that:)

You keep hanging in there, and lots & lots of hugs to you. xo

CWMartin said...

Glad to see you're still hanging in their. Your last post was a good example of why can't public servants remember the "serve" part of the equation. Not one bureaucrat from top to bottom sees "expediting the process" as "getting obstacles out of the way of the one needing help". A process made easier, unfortunately, by those who only see life as a system to be gamed.

I didn't know anyone made homemade pot pies any more (excepting I guess Paula Deen). I'd remind them, but I'm sure your family knows what a blessing you are.

ellen abbott said...

I love chicken pot pie!

Sous Gal said...

I'd charge $12.50 for that in my restaurant - with that salad :)

Great to see you having a good day :)

Jeannie said...

Oh man, now I really want chicken pot pie too. I love meat pies. So does Gary but the pastry has been off our "to eat" list lately. sigh.

Tracy said...

Individual pot pies look tasty. I might have to get some bigger ramekins for that. Plus you could customize them a little for picky eaters. (I am referring to myself on this one not Whitney because I hate peas and that is usually in a pot pie.)

Anonymous said...

Just catching up Skip - must learn how to follow blogs!

We have had our share of "god's gift" doctors during Tony's heart valve replacement and colon cancer - seems they never have the wrong answer, even when other doctors feel otherwise.

Right now Tony has a heart doctor, kidney doctor, rhuemetoid (sp?) doctor for his gout and we still have follow ups with his surgeon - and even they all can't agree sometimes.

Sending big hugs your way - and even though its going to be 80 today, I want a hot pot pie!

Rudee said...

Homemade chicken pot pie is second to nothing, except maybe homemade chicken & dumplings. Yum.

You buy as many grapes as your heart desires!

Shelly said...

Gosh that looks good. Your family must be one happy group with all your good cookin'~

colenic said...

I wish I liked pot pies. But I don't ....hubby loves them though and this is a great idea....I could make up a batch and then freeze them for reheating!
You all look so happy in this picture...hugs and lots of love to you!

Kathy's Klothesline said...

You make a fine picture of a happy family! The pies look yummy! I sometimes make them in the winter to make use of leftover chicken. I always add celery, cause I love it. He who doesn't love celery so much, would no doubt appreciate his very own pie without celery!

Sally said...

I wish I could be your "baby" if it means you'd make me homemade chicken pot pie, too. I've never made it (my husband wouldn't eat it), but I'd love to try it and see how it turns out.

Juli said...

I seriously need to try these. My challenge is finding a GF pie crust that will hold up with the gravy. I'm still working on it, but the mix is so expensive, it's so frustrating when it doesn't work out and I have to start over from scratch.

Either way... they look fabulous. :)

Southhamsdarling said...

Hi there Skippy! Always good when your name comes up on my blog roll. Those pies certainly do look yummy, especially in those little ramekins. What a wonderful photo of you with your gorgeous family. I'm going to save that one - I know you won't mind! (wink, wink!!). I love you all and send my love to you all. You WILL get through this, I just know it! Hugs my dear friend.

Confessions from the Hairdresser said...

You are looking RADIANT, my dear!

I love the idea of the Ramekin pot-pies, I think I would go for that because I like a lot of crunchy crust. The salad makes me lusty, by the way. I can see it on my table with a little squirt of lime and a drizzle of olive oil mmmmmmmmm...

I'm glad to see that you're up and posting, though, and that you're looking healthy and still SMILING. And even if the route that you end up going is documenting your medical goings-on I think I can safely speak for everyone and say that what makes your posts so enjoyable is that you always write about something that's important to you and it comes across to us with that enthusiasm. If you feel like writing about mushrooms you find growing in your yard or white stuff crusted on your shower we will BE ON IT!

Greenmare said...

lovely dinner, lovely porch, lovely family. lovely lovely Skippy mom!

Teresa said...

that's a great picture of you all!

love the individual pot pie idea. ron loves pot pie but the store bought ones are so far out of his "acceptable" level that i won't buy them. i can't make a good pie crust so i think i'll try these with store brand. sounds very yummy and he'll be very surprised when i do it.

have a great weekend! hope pooldad gets some extra time off.

Vicki said...

Hi Skippy,

I haven't been by to read any of the blogs that I follow in over a month and I was very sorry to hear about all that you're going through. Your posts are always such a joy to read and I wanted to let you know that you're in my thoughts and prayers.

Those pot pies look DELICIOUS! I'm going to make some myself and I'll let you know how they come out. I hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend. =)

Anonymous said...

I was so happy to read your comment on my blog Skip! Hope you are resting after a long weekend - hugs to you sweety!